Sodium hydrogencarbonate crystal particles having low caking property and process for producing them

Abstract

Sodium hydrogencarbonate crystal particles, which comprise sodium hydrogencarbonate crystal particles having an average particle size of from 50 to 500 μm based on the mass, and anhydrous sodium carbonate, and sodium carbonate monohydrate and / or Wegscheider's salt, present on the surface of the sodium hydrogencarbonate crystal particles in such amounts that the total content of anhydrous sodium carbonate, sodium carbonate monohydrate, Wegscheider's salt and sodium sesquicarbonate in the sodium hydrogencarbonate crystal particles is from 0.04 to 1 mass % as calculated as anhydrous sodium carbonate, anhydrous sodium carbonate accounts for at least 40 mass % of the total content, and sodium carbonate monohydrate and / or Wegscheider's salt accounts for from 5 to 60 mass % of the total content. Sodium hydrogencarbonate crystal particles having a low caking property, which are useful in the field of food products, pharmaceuticals, bath additives, etc., which require no necessity to contain an anticaking agent, a process for producing them and a method for packaging them, can be provided.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to sodium hydrogencarbonate crystal particles having a low caking property which are useful particularly in the field of food products, pharmaceuticals, etc. and which require no necessity to contain an anticaking agent, a process for producing them and a method for packaging them. BACKGROUND [0002] Sodium hydrogencarbonate (NaHCO3 which is also called baking soda or sodium bicarbonate) is widely used in the field of various food products, as ingredient of baking powder, an additive for soft drinks, etc., in the pharmaceutical industry as a dialysate, an antacid, etc., and further as a fire-extinguishing agent, as a bath additive, as a detergent, as a blasting medium, as an acidic gas neutralizing agent, etc. In most cases, such sodium hydrogencarbonate is produced and packaged, delivered, transported, stored and used in the form of powdery or granular crystal particles. [0003] However, commercial crystal particles of sodium hydro...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013] The present inventors have conducted extensive studies on prevention of caking of sodium hydrogencarbonate crystal particles and as a result, found that the caking property of sodium hydrogencarbonate crystal particles can be reduced based on the following studies and findings.

Problems solved by technology

If caking occurs, the flowability of the particles will be low, and the handling efficiency will deteriorate remarkably in the respective steps from distribution to use, and various troubles are brought about.

Thus, the caking is a serious problem which may impair the commercial value of sodium hydrogencarbonate.

However, such a conventional method for incorporating an anticaking agent, not only requires a cost for the anticaking agent or a step of its incorporation, but also requires selection of the type of the anticaking agent depending upon the particular application.

Further, for food products, pharmaceuticals, etc., it is impossible to use it, or its amount of use may be limited.

However, since the drying temperature is low, the treatment efficiency of a drying apparatus tends to be low, the drying apparatus tends to be large, or the drying time tends to be long.

However, in order to convert sodium hydrogencarbonate to sodium sesquicarbonate, treatment with a high humidity in a long time is required, and accordingly the equipment tends to be large.